Radiator



Jan. 18, 1955 A. c. WALWORTH RADIATOR Filed July 14, 1953 United StatesPatent O This invention relates to radiators of the' fin type inwhich'the fins can beapplied topipes already installed so as to increasethe radiation wlthout requlrmg removal 9 of the piping orsubstitution ofequipment.

In'accordance'with this invention the fins are secured in position bywedge keys arranged transverse to the length of the pipe as shown in theWaldron Patent No. 2,571,505, but-the-fins are'individually applied 111accordance with this invention, -and-the*portions ofthe fins with whichthe wedges or keys engage areso designed that they may be made by-asimpler and less expensive operation than in the 'Waldron'constr-uction.

-Where space 'permits ,-also, meansjm'ay be provided, in accordance withthis --invention,--to-inerease the area of contact betweenthepipeand-fin, thus tolncrease the efiiciency of heat conduction from oneto-the other.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may behad to the accompanyingdrawings in which Figurel is a perspective -viewof aradiator fin and its attaching wedge or key.

Figure 2 is a' fragme'ntaryelevation of a'pair of pipes arranged in bankand showing-fins of the type shown in Figure 1 secured thereto.

Figure 3-:is-a. detail" sectional view'-on-line'3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is 'an' "explodedperspective'view showing a modification; partsbeing shownby dotted lines in assembled relation.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a furthermodification.

Referring-first to Figures 1, 2,==and 3'; the radiator fin 1, which maybe stamped from sheet metal, is formed with a slot 2 extending inwardlyfrom one face, the base of this slot being rounded as at 3 so that itmay engage about substantially 180 of a pipe 4 to which the fin may besecured. As is common in such fins, it may be provided with a recessedannular face portion 5 which acts to stiffen it and tends to hold itextending laterally at substantially right angles to the pipe. This fin1 is provided with a pair of lips 6, one on each side of the notch,formed by partially cutting the material of the fin along generallyparallel lines generally parallel to the sides of the slot andoffsetting it laterally between its sides, spacing it away from theadjacent face of the fin by an amount sufficient to receive between thema wedge member or key 7 which is inserted between the lips 6 and theadjacent face of the fin, as shown best in Figures 2 and 3. As shown inFigure 1 the inner ends of the lips are severed from the fin so that thelips face inwardly. This wedge or key 7 may bear against the pipe 4, andhold the fin in position thereon and forced thereagainst for mosteffective heat conduction between them. These lips may be formed readilyby a simple stamping operation and may be formed at the same time as therib 5 and when the fin is stamped out, if desired. This provides asimple manner of forming a fin which can be attached to a pipe alreadyin position without requiring the dismantling of the pipe and withoutrequiring the substitution of apparatus particularly designed forradiating heat when pipes 4 such as shown in Figure 2 are already inposition.

Such pipes when employed for heating are commonly arranged as shown inFigure 2, adjacent pipes being connected by a U fitting 10 into whichends of the pipes are secured. Commonly such pipes are arranged spaced2,699,923 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 apart three= inches on-ce'nters, whichallows only a small amount of room between-them, butthis is sufficientfor the insertion of=the-wedgemembers or keys 7 as shown in Figures 2-and -3. 0f 'course'theremay be more --than two pipes in oneinstallation. V

Where there is-more room for the placement of the fins, a preferredconstruction'illustrated in Figure 4-rnay be employed, this'const'ruction-having theadvantage of increased efificiency ofradiation,Referring to thisfigure,

the fin 1a is provided with-the lips 6a whicharespaced outwardly fromthe pipe over which the slotted portion Zamay beplaced. A- filler plate15 shown in Figure'4 the sides of :the 'slot' 2a and pressed from thematerial thereof, this lip being on-the side'of the plate 15corresponding tothe lips 60f the fin 1a and severed at-itsouter 'endsoas to face the outer edge of the plate 15in the opposite direction -tothe'lips 6a. This plate may be cut from the material of the fin itself.Preferably, also, the sides of the slot 2a flare-slightly, so thatforcing the plate portion 15 inwardly presses the sides of the plateagainst the-sides of'the slot- 2a and also presses the inner concavededge 17, 'aswell as the base of the slot 2a, tightly against oppositesides of the pipe. Theinsertion of a wedge-member 20 between the lips 6aand the adjacent face of the fin member 1a and between the lip 18 andthe corresponding faceof the plate member 15 forces the plate 15 and thefin 1a against the pipe from opposite sides. The edge 17" engages 'thepipe over substantially the remaining of its circumference tothatengaged by the' base of the slot 20. 'Thus the fin 1a and the platemember 15 together engage substantially about the entire circunifrenceofthe pipe. Itwill'be noted; however, that the wedge member 30 is not incontact withthe pipe'as it is in thestructure shOWn in Figures 1, 2, and3.

Where the ma'terial'of the fin'or filler plate piece or both permit, afurther and desirable modification shown in Figure 5 may be employedin-which both ends ofthe lips 6bor '18 b'are leftattachedthe materialofthe lip or lips-6b on 18b being stretchedsuificiently to be offset fromthe plane of the piece lb or 15b from which it has been partly severed.In any case where the filler plate piece is employed, its lip ispositioned between and generally parallel to the lips of the fin.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this inventionit should be clear that various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A radiator fin notched inwardly from one edge to take over and engagea pipe throughout substantially 180 of the pipe circumference, said finhaving parts partly cut and bent from the general plane thereof to forma pair of lips, one on each side of said notch and generally. parallelthereto in position for a key to be engaged between said lips and theadjacent face of said fin and extend across said notch and hold said finonto a pipe extending through said notch.

2. A radiator fin notched inwardly from one edge to take over and engagea pipe throughout substantially 180 of the pipe circumference, said finhaving parts partly cut and bent from the general plane thereof to formlips facing away from said notched edge in position for a key to engageback of said lips and extend across said notch and hold said fin onto apipe extending through said notch.

3. The combination with a pipe, of a radiator fin notched inwardly fromone edge, the width of said notch being substantially equal to thediameter of said pipe and having a rounded inner end to engage over saidpipe throughout substantially 180 said fin having parts on oppositesides of said notch partly cut and offset from the general plane of saidfin to form lips facing away from sa1d notched edge, and a wedgeengaging back of said lips and against the adjacent face of said fin andextending across said notch in position to retain said fin assembled onsaid pipe.

4. A radiator fin notched inwardly from one edge to take over and engagea pipe throughout substantially 180, a filler plate piece in said notchhaving a concave inner edge to engage the pipe opposite to theengagement of said fin therewith, said fin having parts partly cut andbent from the general plane thereof to form a pair of lips one on eachside of said notch and generally parallel thereto, and said filler platepiece having a part partly out therefrom and bent from the general planethereof to form a lip generally parallel to and between said fin lips,and a wedge member extending across said fin and plate piece and betweensaid lips and the adjacent faces of said fin and plate piece to holdsaid fin and plate piece assembled on the pipe.

5. A radiator fin notched inwardly from one edge to take over and engagea pipe throughout substantially 180", a filler plate piece for saidnotch having a concave inner edge to engage the pipe opposite to theengagement of said fin therewith, said fin having parts partly cut fromthe plane thereof at each side of said notch to form lips spaced fromone face of said fin and facing inwardly from said notched edge, saidfiller plate having a part partly cut therefrom and offset from theplane thereof to form a lip spaced from one face and facing outwardly,and a wedge member between said lips and the adjacent faces of said finand plate holding said fin and plate assembled.

6. A radiator fin notched inwardly from one edge to take over and engagea pipe throughout sustantially 180, a filler plate piece in said notchhaving a concave inner edge to engage the pipe opposite to theengagement of said fin therewith, said fin having parts partly cut andbent from the general plane thereof to form a pair of lips one on eachside of said notch and generally parallel thereto, and said filler platepiece having a part partly cut therefrom and bent from the general planethereof to form a lip generally parallel to and between said fin lips,and a wedge member extending across said fin and plate piece and betweensaid lips and the adjacent faces of said fin and plate piece to holdsaid fin and plate piece assembled on the pipe, the sides of said notchand filler plate piece flaring outwardly.

7. A radiator fin notched inwardly from one edge to take over and engagea pipe throughout substantially 180, a filler plate piece for said notchhaving a concave inner edge to engage the pipe opposite to theengagement of said fin therewith, said fin having parts partly cut fromthe plane thereof at each side of said notch to form lips spaced fromone face of said fin and facing inwardly from said notched edge, saidfiller plate having a part partly cut therefrom and offset from theplane thereof to form a lip spaced from one face and facing outwardly,and a wedge member between said lips and the adjacent faces of said finand plate holding said fin and plate assembled, said fin and platehaving mating side edges flaring outwardly toward said notched fin edge.

8. In combination with a pipe, of a radiator fin notched inwardly fromone edge, the width of said notch being substantially equal to thediameter of said pipe and the base of said notch being concaved toengage said pipe over an arc of substantially a filler plate piece forsaid notch having a concaved inner end engaging with said pipe forsubstantially the remaining 180, said fin having parts partly cut fromand offset from one face thereof on opposite sides of said notch to formtongues facing the base of said notch, and said filler plate piecehaving a part partly cut and offset from the corresponding face of saidfiller plate and forming a tongue facing oppositely to the tongues ofsaid fin, and a wedge member engaging between said tongues and theadjacent faces of said fin and filler plate and wedging both againstopposite sides of said pipe.

9. In combination with a pipe, of a radiator fin notched inwardly fromone edge, the width of said notch being substantially equal to thediameter of said pipe and the base of said notch being concaved toengage said pipe over an arc of substantially 180, a filler plate piecefor said notch having a concaved inner end engaging with said pipe forsubstantially the remaining 180, said fin having parts partly cut fromand offset from one face thereof on opposite sides of said notch to formtongues facing the base of said notch, and said filler plate piecehaving a part partly cut and offset from the corresponding face of saidfiller plate and forming a tongue facing oppositely to the tongues ofsaid fin, and a wedge member engaging between said tongues and theadjacent faces of said fin and filler plate and wedging both againstopposite sides of said pipe, the sides of said notch and filler plateflaring toward said notched edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS399,493 Campbell Mar. 12, 1889 440,671 Weisel Nov. 18, 1890 1,885,536Murray Nov. 1, 1932 2,557,760 Powell et al. June 19, 1951 2,571,505Waldron Oct. 16, 1951

